U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Oregon / Washington

Energy

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that in 2012, total U.S. utility-scale electricity generation broke down, by source, as follows: 37% from coal, 30% from natural gas, 19% from nuclear, 12% from renewable energy (of that hydropower accounted for 56%, wind 28%, biomass 12%, geothermal 3%, and solar 1%), and 1% from oil. However, oil accounted for nearly 100% of the Nation's transportation fuel, although since 2011 most gasoline is now blended with up to 10% ethanol (E10), a biofuel. And by early 2013 there were around 11 million flex-fuel vehicles on U.S. roads capable of using fuel blends consisting of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline (E85). In 2010, the U.S. produced 58% of the world's ethanol fuel. Natural gas-fueled and electric vehicles are also beginning to enter the market. The transportation sector consumes about 28% of all end-use energy in the U.S.

The Obama Administration has an "all-of-the-above" energy development strategy which emphasizes renewable energy but also includes conventional non-renewable energy as a critical source of domestic energy to meet the Nation's needs for the foreseeable future. Because of this, the BLM's role in implementing the Energy Policy Act of 2005 is critical. The Act aims to secure America's energy future by promoting dependable, affordable, and environmentally sound energy production while reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

The Federal energy mix managed by BLM includes these renewable energy resources: wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower, biomass, and wave/tidal energy; and these non-renewable energy resources: oil and gas, coal bed natural gas, coal, and uranium. The BLM also supports the electrical transmission and oil and gas pipeline infrastructure that are critical to bring the electrons, British Thermal Units, and fuels generated by these energy sources to market. View more >>